Page 41 of Icebound

“What the hell?” I shout, struggling against Patty’s vice-like grip. Damn, he’s still got it, and here I thought having a kid would nudge him into dad bod territory.

“Sorry, Tremblay, but this is too important. You know not to mess with the rituals,” Patty says, lowering his voice. “Also, I want to meet this girl you can’t stop talking about.”

“I don’t talk about her,” I cut out, struggling in his grasp.

Patty rolls his eyes. “You spent three hours in the hotel last night researching her pottery fellowship, and then telling me all the details, but sure, you don’t talk about her.”

“I was just curious about it.”

I’m sure all this is lust, and she might not be a doctor, but that fellowship is damn impressive. I know how hard it is to work toward a dream, and I admire her for going after what she wants, even if I am too old for her. Yeah, she lied, but she owned up to the fact, and didn’t try to cover it up, which takes courage.

“Okay, same. I want to meet this girl.” Cruz picks up my phone and types in my passcode. How does he know my birthday? Nosy fucker.

“Give me my phone, Cruz. Now.”

He scrolls through my texts. “Don’t worry, I won’t look at your nudes. I’ve already seen your mutant cock, anyway. I don’t need a repeat.”

“What’s wrong with your cock, Tremblay?” someone shouts in the locker room.

“You haven’t seen it?” Cruz scrolls my phone. “It’s girthy as fuck.”

I struggle in Patty’s firm hold, ignoring their comments. “Don’t call her, Cruz. I’m serious.”

“I won’t. What do you think I am? A grandfather like you?” I go limp with relief in Patty’s grip, but then, Cruz smirks. “I’m FaceTiming her, obviously.”

I lurch forward, but Patty holds me back. “Sorry about this, Tremblay, but you know it’s important. This is high stakes. Do or die. Cruz is right. We need you to have your lucky beanie or the hockey gods will curse us forever.”

Patty can’t stop laughing to himself, so I know he’s only doing this because he wants to meet Nina.

“You realize she’ll think you’re insane, right, Cruz?”

“I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks. I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” Cruz says as the phone pings. “In fact, I’ll be so gentlemanly, she might want to climb on top and ride my horse.”

Patty grimaces. “That’s a really weird analogy, man.”

I look down at my white knuckles balled into fists. With a forced effort, I slowly uncurl my fingers, but the urge to put my fist through a wall is hard to shake off. Cruz sleeps with anyone, and I don’t want him going there with Nina.

“Listen to me, Cruz. Do not fuck around with Nina. I mean it.”

Patty hisses in a breath. “Damn, look at Tremblay’s face. You probably shouldn’t have said that.”

“I’m not scared of Gramps over there. What’s he gonna do? Throw his dentures at me?”

The phone stops pinging.

“Rhode?”

All of us go rigid. My chest tightens at the sound of Nina’s throaty voice. Cruz’s eyes widen when he looks at the screen. “Hot damn. Phil? Is that you? What the hell are you doing answering Tremblay’s call?”

Every muscle in my body locks. Does Cruz know her?

“Micah Cruz?” Nina says, and dammit, it sounds like she’s smiling, but I can’t see her. “Why are you calling me from Rhode’s phone? Also, how many times did I tell you in high school not to call me Phil? You know I hate it.”

High school?

“No, you don’t,” Cruz says. “You secretly love that we have our inside joke.”

They have inside jokes?